What would the world be like without shipping?

Jan joined UNCTAD in 2003 and is Chief of the organization’s Trade Logistics Branch since 2016. The Branch implements research and technical assistance programmes in international transport and trade facilitation.

Previously, Jan worked six years for the UN ECLAC in Santiago de Chile, and two years for the IMO in London and Santiago.

Prior to this, he held part time positions as assistant professor, import-export agent, and seafarer. Jan has studied in Germany, UK, and Spain, and holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Hamburg.

Nigel's career spans the breadth of the global shipping industry, highlighted by key roles such as Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk Line in Copenhagen and CEO of Container Inland Services within the AP Moller-Maersk Group. He further distinguished himself as CEO of The Maersk Company Limited (UK) and Non-Executive Chairman of INTTRA. Nigel's leadership prowess extended to his tenure as Chief Commercial Officer at Inchcape Shipping Services.

Prior to his time with AP Moller-Maersk, Nigel played pivotal roles at P&O Nedlloyd and P&O Containers, including positions such as Corporate Finance Director and Managing Director of Southern Africa. With his wealth of experience, Nigel is an accomplished maritime authority, driving innovation and excellence throughout his career.

Maximilian is a Consultant in the World Bank's Transport Global Practice and for UNCTAD. He focuses on decarbonizing the maritime transport sector.

Since joining the World Bank, he has worked on projects relating to energy efficiency, but also in the unit's in-country work on decarbonization strategies for shipping.

Prior to his engagement with the Bank, he gained operational shipping experience working as a seagoing Engineer Officer, serving on globally trading container vessels and passenger ships and worked in the shipbuilding industry.

Maximilian holds a BSc in Marine Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences, Wismar, Germany and a MSc in Maritime Management from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is a qualified marine engineer in accordance with the STCW convention. 

Onno Hoffmeister is currently project officer of the UNCTAD-IMO project "Comprehensive Impact Assessment of the Basket of Candidate Mid-term GHG Reduction Measures for Maritime Transport".

He led until recently the Statistics Production Unit at UNCTAD and in that function coordinated the development of the UNCTAD - World Bank Trade-and-Transport Dataset.

Onno holds a Master of Economics and a doctoral degree from the European University Viadrina of Frankfurt (Odra). After ten years in academic research at the DIW Berlin and the University of Hamburg and engagement in capacity building for the GIZ, he worked as Statistical Officer for Eurostat and as Statistician for the FAO. He joined UNCTAD in 2015.

His research has been published in the Review of Income and Wealth, the Statistical Journal the IAOS, Agricultural Economics and other journals.

Rohan Masakarola is the founder and CEO of Shippers' Academy Colombo and Shippers' Academy International, Australia; as well as a UNESCAP certified lecturer on global supply chains and logistics where he has served as SG to many international institutions and government boards.

He is also Lead Consultant of the Maritime Advisory Programme, with U.S. State Department and the Colombo Plan on capacity development.

Rohan has over 30 years of experience through factory floor to the global commerce (exports-imports) and ports, logistics and distribution systems and policy advocacy.

Formerly, he served as a logistics consultant to ITC Geneva, as well as chairman of the National Exports Strategy on logistics to the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka. He has also been a working group member of the ICC in Paris, on trade terms development (INCOTERMS).

Rohan's work includes policy related experiences in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Australia, Myanmar.

Gina Panayiotou leads the World ESG Forum, fostering collaboration across maritime, trade, and transport sectors to develop an ESG framework for ocean health, seafarer wellbeing, and diversity. She is also CEO of ESG Consultancy, Oceans Arena.

With expertise in maritime law and an MBA in change management, Gina has advised organizations like Hartmann Shipowning Group, MSC Cruises, and West P and I, and consulted for the UN's International Maritime Organization and the Greek Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Ocean.

She holds roles including Seatrade Maritime Club Ambassador for the UK, Secretary at WISTA UK, Co-Chair of WISTA International Environmental Committee, and G100 UK Chair for Sustainable Brand Creation.

Gina supports the World Ocean Council, teaches at MLA College, and has spoken at 35+ conferences. She garnered recognition from Marine Traffic, Seatrade, Legal 500, and GC Powerlist, featuring in the Top 100 Women in Shipping for 5 years and hosts her podcast.

George Theocharidis is a Professor of Maritime Law and Policy at World Maritime University.

He is a Member of the Piraeus Law Bar and a qualified advocate before Areios Pagos (Supreme Court) with extensive shipping litigation practice.

He is a Member of the IMO Roaster of Experts and a Member of the Working Group of its Legal Committee pertaining to "Measures to Prevent Unlawful Practices Associated with Fraudulent Registration and Fraudulent Registries of Ships".

He has served as Ordinary Member of the Law Commission that recently revised the Code of Private Maritime Law of Greece and Joint Rapporteur of the International Working Group of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) on "Liability for the Wrongful Arrest of Ships".

He is author of many books and articles in various fields of law.

Holder of an LL.M. degree from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a Ph.D. from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece).